During his swimming career, Ashtin Wallace has enjoyed plenty of big moments at Delta State University’s Ronald G. Mayers Aquatics Center.

If things go well, there are a lot more to come.

The Warren Central senior, who won three MHSAA state championships this season, recently signed with Delta State. He’s hoping it’s just the next step toward bigger and better things in the sport.

“What it really means is continuing my swim career, because obviously I want to better myself to the best of my ability and get as far as I can with swimming. Even as far as Olympic time trials. That would be amazing,” Wallace said. “I picked Delta State because I thought the coach could get me as far as I could go because he’s been to the trials and swam with Olympians.”

Delta State’s natatorium is one of Mississippi’s biggest and best swimming facilities. In addition to its home college team it is a frequent host of championship meets for both high school and club teams.

Between swimming for Warren Central and the Sunkist Swim Team, a club team based in Flowood, Wallace has competed at the Mayers Aquatics Center several times each year.

“At least 12 times, which is a lot when you’re swimming because usually you don’t go back to the same pool a lot during competition. I usually go back at least three times each year,” Wallace said. “I’ve been swimming there my whole life and it’s a great thing that I’m going to be swimming there for another four years with a great coach.”

Delta State is also one of the top NCAA Division II swimming programs. Wallace had another offer from Southwest Baptist University in Missouri, another D-II school, but said being a little closer to home at a top-tier program like Delta State was too good to pass up.

“(Southwest Baptist) was eight hours away and the tuition was a lot more. I just had to pick the better one for me and my family,” Wallace said.

Wallace first got into competitive swimming when he was 12 years old, which is a bit late for someone who has reached the level he’s at. Then-Vicksburg Swim Association coach Mathew Mixon, who is now the coach with the Sunkist team, spotted him at the Vicksburg YMCA pool and convinced Wallace’s parents to give the sport a try.

Wallace took to it like … well, a fish to water.

“Normally when people pick up swimming it’s a lot younger than 12 years old. In seventh grade I started and had a good coach at VSA and a good coach at Warren Central,” Wallace said.

In addition to outstanding performances at club meets, Wallace had two second-place individual finishes at the MHSAA Class II high school meet in 2023, and swam the butterfly leg for the 200 yard medley relay team that won the state championship.

He improved on that performance in 2024 by winning state championships in the 200 yard individual medley, and 200 yard medley and 400 yard freestyle relays. He was also second in the 100 yard butterfly, with a time of 54.46 seconds.

“I’ve been looking at being a collegiate swimmer — or more — since I started, because I love to swim and want to continue and get as best as I can at it. I just strive to be the best,” Wallace said.

Now he’s got that chance, both at the college level and possibly beyond.

“With another four years, and a collegiate coach and practice schedule, I think it’s very possible to get to the Olympic time trials if I give it my all — and that’s what I usually do,” Wallace said. “When no one else wants to practice, it’s all about wanting to do it and having that dedication to do it and discipline.”